Cheltenham Day 1 Tips - 2023 Cheltenham Festival Tips

Supreme Novices Hurdle

The market has long been dominated by Facile Vega, who was a perfect seven from seven prior to his first defeat.

The son of Quevega surprisingly finished tailed off behind Il Etait Temps, a rival he had accounted for in December. Willie Mullins blamed the pace that day and punters appear to have bought the story as he is back to be being the ante-post favourite.

The Royal Bond Hurdle should have brought Marine Nationale on plenty and the horse looks like a strong adversary to the favourite.

2023 Supreme Novices Hurdle tip: Diverge @ 14/1 (E/W)

Arkle Novices Chase

Jonbon has shown his battling qualities on several occasions now, last season at Haydock in their Supreme Trial, at both Cheltenham and Aintree last spring and then most recently in the Kingmaker. He will give his supporters palpitations, but he generally knuckles down in the end.

El Fabiolo easily put Appreciate It, Dysart Dynamo and Banbridge to bed at the DRF and must rate as the chief danger to Jonbon.

Cheltenham’s test may well suit Dysart Dynamo down to a tee and I think he may tap them all for toe coming up the hill.

2023 Arkle Chase tip: Dysart Dynamo @ 9/2 (WIN)

Ultima Handicap Chase

Nassalam attempts three miles for the first time and based upon his staying on third on Cheltenham’s New Course on New Year's Day, the distance looks perfect for Gary Moore’s six-year-old.

I personally wouldn’t get too involved with Corach Rambler for win purposes in this race as I believe they will have bigger fish to fry in the Grand National and he won’t be overexerted.

The progressive Into Overdrive arrives here having won five of his last six starts, with L’Homme Presse being the only horse to beat him in that time. You cannot sniff at that level of form.

2023 Ultima Handicap Chase tip: Into Overdrive @ 7/1 (E/W)

Champion Hurdle

Nicky Henderson's Constitution Hill is the number one star of the National Hunt game at the moment and is a short price in our Cheltenham races betting odds to win the Champion Hurdle.

The six-year-old won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle by 22 lengths last season and it would come as no surprise if he won by double-digit lengths again in this championship race.

Devastating displays in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton this season have shown that he is going to be nigh on impossible to beat and is the banker of The Festival.

2023 Champion Hurdle tip: Vauban @ 10/1 (E/W)

Mares Hurdle

Racing’s most famous mare Honeysuckle will aim to win her second Mares’ Hurdle and a fourth Festival Grade 1.

Her fans will be hoping for the fairy-tale conclusion to her exceptional racing career but she’ll have to do it the hard way if she does and fend off some incredibly talented rivals.

Marie’s Rock’s victory in this contest last year has followed up by taking the Punchestown version of the race at their Festival as well as winning the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day.

She showed a quick injection of pace in the Relkeel and will take some pegging back if she does that again here.

2023 Mares Hurdle tip: Queens Brook @ 12/1 (E/W)

Boodles Juvenile Hurdle

A wide open affair once again, with the nod just going to Andrew Slattery’s Sir Allen who won a race at Naas that has amazingly thrown up three winners of this contest in the shape of Brazil, Band Of Outlaws and Aramax.

That’s quite a statistic and the gelding is definitely one to keep onside.

Rachael Blackmore rides Ben Pauling's new French recruit Bad and he warrants a good onceover in the betting too when placing your horse race bets online.

2023 Boodles Juvenile Hurdle tip: Sir Allen @ 10/1 (E/W)

National Hunt Chase

The Willie Mullins-trained Gaillard Du Mesnil is a warm order to oblige here and it is easy to see why.

A Grade 1 win in the Neville’s Hotel Novice Chase, where he beat Churchstonewarrior is the best form on show in this race and many punters will feel odds of 11/10 are a gift.

Gordon Elliott’s Minella Crooner is a consistent type and I think he will give his jockey Brian O’Neill a great spin round.

2023 National Hunt Chase tip: Minella Crooner @ 8/1 (E/W)